United nations development programme in Kazakhstan

Окончательный вариант/Final text 17 June 02

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN KAZAKHSTAN

What is UNDP?

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

UNDP plays a central role in coordinating development efforts of all UN agencies operating in the country through the Resident Coordinator System. We do this fully and constructively in the spirit of partnership. This enhances the impact of the UN system in the country as well as moves forward major UN and global initiatives.

What is UNDP’s Main Goal?

UNDP’s mission is to help countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable human development.

By sustainable development we understand development, which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

We assist in designing and implementing national development strategies, promoting democratic and economic reforms, strengthening institutional and human capacities.

At the global level UNDP’s activities are focused on the following core issues:

·  Democratic Governance,

·  Pro-Poor Policies,

·  Crisis Prevention and Recovery,

·  Energy and Environment,

·  Information and Communications Technology,

·  HIV/AIDS.

At the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000, world leaders from 191 countries pledged to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015. UNDP is charged with helping to make this a reality

What Does UNDP Do in Kazakhstan?

UNDP began its Programme of Assistance to Kazakhstan in 1993, soon after the country’s accession to the UN. As a demand-driven organization, our support is closely linked to the priorities of the National Development Strategy 2010 and the Longer-Term Vision of Kazakhstan 2030. Our Programme of support is therefore pursuing the principal goal of helping the people of Kazakhstan to achieve human security and equitable growth. To achieve this goal we concentrate on the following three areas:

poverty reduction, democratic and economic reform, and environmental management for sustainable development.

Poverty Reduction

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In cooperation with the Government at the central and local levels, non-governmental organizations and the civil society at large, UNDP helps mitigate the negative impacts of the transition period on people’s lives. The priority area is poverty reduction. Together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) we assist the Government in the development of the national poverty reduction strategy and support local governments in their anti-poverty activities. Much attention is given to educating the population about the complex nature of poverty, its causes and possible actions to reduce it and to building the mentality of self-esteem and self-reliance within communities. In cooperation with our partners – the Government of Japan, ChevronTexaco and Citibank - we support small and medium enterprise development (SME) by strengthening an enabling environment for SME development, facilitating public-private partnership, promoting the establishment of business advisory services, business incubators, and enhancing national consulting capacities. In the context of best practice transfer, UNDP helped introduce a non-collateral micro lending scheme in three geographic areas of Kazakhstan – Semipalatinsk, Kyzylorda and Atyrau.

Another aspect of our assistance is focused on improving the role and position of women in Kazakhstan by:

·  promoting their political participation and economic empowerment,

·  improving their health, and

·  combating violence against women.

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With UNDP’s support the Government mobilized international humanitarian and other assistance to the Semipalatinsk region.

In 1998 UNDP coordinated a UN Joint Needs Assessment Mission of 70 international and national experts. It resulted in US$ 43 million Semipalatinsk Relief and Rehabilitation Programme consisting of 38 priority projects in the areas of economic recovery, environment, health care and humanitarian assistance. With support from UNDP and the Government of Japan, the Programme was submitted to the international community for consideration at the Tokyo International Conference on Semipalatinsk in September 1999. As a result, over US$ 20 million was pledged from major donors. In addition, UNDP established an open Trust Fund for Semipalatinsk as a transparent disbursement facility for donors. With the first contribution from the Government of Japan totaling US$ 1,1 million a community-based social umbrella project was launched in Semipalatinsk in April 2002.

 

Together with our partners in the UN family and the private sector we assist the Government in promoting healthy life style with a special focus on HIV/AIDS prevention. This programme targets vulnerable groups and assists people living with HIV/AIDS; however, education and information campaign has been launched among wider population groups, including youth.

Democratic and economic reform

In support of the Government’s course of democratic reform UNDP assists in the development of institutional and human capacities of the legislative and executive branches. Working closely with the Parliament of the RK to strengthen its legislative function and institutional capacity, we helped establish the first professional Legislative Drafting and Monitoring Centre, develop a computerized Knowledge Access System and provide opportunities for Parliamentarians and their staff learn from countries with advanced practices in the area of legislation.

An important element is decentralization and empowering local governments. Our assistance has helped the Government in conducting the situational analysis of regional development and local governance to improve informed policy-making process.

In the area of human rights protection we support and facilitate

·  preparation and passing of the Ombudsman law and the establishment of an Ombudsman institution in Kazakhstan

·  a dialogue between the government and the NGOs on human rights protection and promotion

·  Kazakhstan’s joining major UN human rights instruments.

With UNDP’s support, the role of NGOs in delivering social services to vulnerable populations, especially in poverty-related activities is strengthened.

In view of the new challenges that Kazakhstan faces stemming from potential security threats, UNDP assists the Government by providing the analysis of the current conditions and prospects of development in Kazakhstan, and to propose recommendations and strategy for preventive development.

Environment for sustainable development

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UNDP stands firmly and consistently behind the determination of the Government to take urgent and practical measures to address the negative impacts of human activity on environment. Towards this end we helped the Government of Kazakhstan in:

·  prioritising environmental problems and actions to address them through the National Environmental Action Plan,

·  reviewing Kazakhstan’s environmental obligations to the global community,

·  identifying barriers and proposing mechanisms for an effective implementation of various international conventions to which Kazakhstan is a party,

·  improving the effectiveness of institutions responsible for environmental protection and management,

·  identifying and putting in place the best organizational structures to enhance regional cooperation on environmental issues

We also help the Government address some of the pressing human and environmental problems in the Aral Sea Basin. Working jointly and through UN volunteers and, particularly, non-governmental organizations, we help local authorities and communities to:

improve drinking water quality and establish sustainable water management practices, maintain effective utilization of pastures, regulate desertification processes and restore fodder lands; improve health and livelihoods of people.

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With funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) we assist the Government to address the issues of:

conservation of biological diversity through integrated management of wetlands and mountain agrobiodiversity; mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change through improved energy efficiency in heat and water supply sector, and the introduction of renewable energy practices; phase out of ozone depleting substances, complete phase out of persistent organic pollutants.

Since 1997 we have been providing small grants to community-based groups and non-governmental organizations to support their actions on protecting their environment and taking control of the natural resources. An important component is educating people that their social and economic well being depends on sound resource management as well as helping them help themselves.

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What are UNDP’s Central Asian Regional Initiatives?

As the largest country in Central Asia and an important geopolitical regional centre Kazakhstan takes an active role in eliminating barriers that impede successful and mutually advantageous cooperation among the countries in the region. We work together with the Government in support of these initiatives. Among them are:

·  reducing cross-border barriers and implementing international trade and transport agreements for improving regional cooperation and development of the Silk Road Region;

·  addressing the problems of transboundary air and water pollution, land degradation, waste management, and mountain eco-system degradation through the implementation of the Regional Environmental Action Plan;

·  achieving the goal of a balanced and environmentally-conscious development and management of the Caspian Region; and

·  creating favourable conditions for the Aral Sea Basin and the Alatay Saiyan Mountain Area development.

What are UNDP publications?

Since 1995 we have sponsored the preparation and participatory discussions of National Human Development Reports. The Reports tackle issues of topical importance for the country and serve as a useful reference source for policy makers, researchers and the general public. In addition, UNDP published a number of other thematic publications, which cover issues related to environmental problems, development of human rights institutions, gender issues and others.

In 2002-2003, UNDP Kazakhstan will publish a series of thematic reports to deal with the issues of industrial development, poverty, rural development, NGO status, etc.

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Who are our partners?

The success of our activities in Kazakhstan largely hinges on our close cooperation with our partners. This partnership includes a wide range of initiatives including best practices transfer, expert consultative services, study tours, workshops and conferences.

Because UNDP seeks to ensure a predictable flow of resources to support its programmes and projects and follows strictly the principles of transparency, fairness and neutrality in grant funds distribution, we have earned a reputation of a trusted and efficient partner.

Together with the Government of Kazakhstan, the Governments of other countries, international and national non-governmental organizations, the private sector and the entire Kazakhstani people we are working to achieve the noble goal of prosperity and well being in the 21 century.

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UNDP Kazakhstan

Our address:

67 Tole Bi Street Almaty 480091 Republic of Kazakhstan Tel.: [phone]; fax: [phone] e-mail: registry. *****@***org

38 Bukei Khan Avenue 473000 Astana Republic of Kazakhstan Tel.: [phone]; 32 07 75; fax: [phone] e-mail: *****@***kz

Our website:

www.